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Trump celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in weather-delayed, sometimes partisan speech

2 hours agoCenter

President Trump capped off the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding with a late-night speech delayed by inclement weather that blended the championing of American achievements and resilience with deeply partisan rhetoric about the perceived ideological threats facing the country. “Tonight we come together for one of the most joyous and glorious milestones of all time,”…

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Crowds Evacuated as Storms Menace Washington Ahead of Trump Speech

NYT > U.S. > Politics

3 hours ago

Crowds Evacuated as Storms Menace Washington Ahead of Trump Speech

Thousands of people stood in security lines for hours in severe heat to reach the National Mall, only to be ordered to leave as events were set to start. Some refused.

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In Fourth of July Speech, Trump Celebrates America and Derides Foes

NYT > U.S. > Politics

3 hours ago

In Fourth of July Speech, Trump Celebrates America and Derides Foes

A centerpiece address for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration devoted time to American history, but had all the hallmarks of a Trump rally.

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Trump uses America’s 250 speech to honor military heroes and also push political agendas

NBC News Politics

3 hours ago

Trump uses America’s 250 speech to honor military heroes and also push political agendas

President Trump concluded the semiquincentennial celebration by reflecting on the nation's history, honoring veterans and pushing his political agenda during his address at the Salute to America event. NBC News’ Ryan Nobles reports on key points from the president's speech.

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Scorching heat and delays: How Washington DC marked America 250

BBC News

3 hours ago

Scorching heat and delays: How Washington DC marked America 250

The United States of America marked its 250th birthday with fireworks, flyovers, some intense weather across the country.

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US marks its 250th birthday with fireworks, flyovers and extreme weather

BBC News

3 hours ago

US marks its 250th birthday with fireworks, flyovers and extreme weather

US President Donald Trump's speech included some of his political agenda but also honoured war veterans and American history.

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Trump: 'We don't want Communists in our country'

NBC News Politics

3 hours ago

Trump: 'We don't want Communists in our country'

During his speech at the Salute to America 250, President Trump said "we don't want Communists in our country."

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Trump's God, guns and anticommunist Fourth of July

Axios

3 hours ago

Trump's God, guns and anticommunist Fourth of July

President Trump championed American military might, a Christian U.S. and his top legislative goal in a delayed Fourth of July speech from the National Mall, wrapping just minutes before the calendar switched to Sunday morning.The big picture: The speech caps a holiday interrupted by weather-related holdups and months of semiquincentennial commemorations — many of which centered on the president and his vision of the nation at 250 years old.Driving the news: Throughout the speech, Trump nodded to a modern-day battle against communism, a frequent element of his midterm messaging."We don't want communists in our country," he said. "Never worked, and it never will work."Trump later added, "Communism is a loser, and it always will be."Zoom out: The president's language was also markedly religious — in line with the tone from the White House and its allies that has steered America's 250th birthday toward prayer and divine guidance, Axios' Russell Contreras reports."All over the world, they try and be like us, nobody can be like us, and with God's help, we will always be this, or even better," he said."As our Declaration of Independence tells us, we are all made in the image of one almighty God, and a communist will never say that, that's for sure," he added.Several military veterans and the Artemis II crew joined the stage to cheers as the president touted America's history of military achievements, sacrifice and innovation.But he also diverted to push for passage of the SAVE America Act voter ID bill, a fixation of the president's that has become a source of friction for his congressional allies."There will be no mail-in ballots, except for illness, disability, military deployment, or travel, and you won't have cheating on the elections anymore," said the president, who often circulates unfounded claims of mass election fraud.Catch up quick: Trump took the stage after storms forced throngs of event-goers to evacuate, seek temporary shelter, and then be re-screened through security checkpoints when gates reopened.The timing of the celebration's finale fireworks was already in flux, with Trump pledging he'd give a "really long speech" despite the heat wave bringing triple-digit temperatures to D.C.Go deeper: Trump declares D.C.'s July 4 celebration a "TRUMP RALLY"

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Watch the full Salute to America 250 fireworks show from Washington, D.C.

NBC News Politics

3 hours ago

Watch the full Salute to America 250 fireworks show from Washington, D.C.

A massive, nearly 40-minute fireworks display celebrated America’s 250th anniversary from Washington, D.C., during the Salute to America 250 on the National Mall. The event had been delayed for hours due to severe weather.

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Trump celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in weather-delayed, sometimes partisan speech

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Trump celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in weather-delayed, sometimes partisan speech

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